tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90891207798462122562018-01-15T10:33:02.825-06:00Vicki Lesage, AuthorVicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-6442955943973215722017-12-29T08:00:00.000-06:002017-12-29T09:46:09.364-06:00A Little Bit About Me...<div align="center"><a href="https://amzn.to/2lrFitB" target="_blank"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uiQ5fa3-rjA/WOfnXxRrEeI/AAAAAAAADT0/rPqdV8kE43g1JHy-rOKdwh6QMX30cvRPACLcB/s1600/vicki-lesage-books.png" width="600" /></a></div><br />Bonjour! You may be wondering just who is this loud, chatty Vicki Lesage. Maybe you heard about one of <a href="https://amzn.to/2lrFitB" target="_blank">my books</a>, or maybe you even read one (thanks!). Perhaps you came here to learn a little more about me. Cool.<br /><br />I'm a 30-something girl from St. Louis who lived in Paris for more than a decade. I'm now back in the suburbs of good ol' St. Louis with my French husband and two kids. We loved living in Paris. We didn't love all cramming in to a one-bedroom apartment. Now we have much more space to cause trouble in!<br /><br />I wrote a few books about my life in Paris. Feel free to check them out! <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UESOPYA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00UESOPYA&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=vickilesage-20&amp;linkId=L7EQBYZOTSLQDHOD" target="_blank">Petite Confessions</a> is free on Amazon and <a href="https://bit.ly/lesage-news" target="_blank">Confessions &amp; Cocktails</a> is free if you sign up for my newsletter (don't worry, I only send a few newsletters per year).<br /><br />You can also check out a few of my blog posts or visit me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vickilesagewriter" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. Thanks for stopping by!Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-35639357910769307022017-10-31T08:00:00.000-05:002017-12-29T09:49:01.258-06:00Confessions of a Paris Party Girl now available in audio!It's here! <em><a href="https://amzn.to/1OkAMXc" target="_blank">Confessions of a Paris Party Girl</a></em> is now available in <a href="https://amzn.to/2DxpZXL" target="_blank">audiobook</a> format. Woo hoo!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2DxpZXL" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zEdWwc11xGM/WkZgKJD0xoI/AAAAAAAADW8/lQYTHCdXBrA9uud65FIzFq00v68hWnyBwCLcBGAs/s400/confessions-of-a-paris-party-girl-audiobook.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />The narrator, Em Eldridge, did a wonderful job – she sounds more like me than I do! And a big thanks to <a href="https://tantor.com/" target="_blank">Tantor Media</a> for producing the audiobook.<br /><br />If you give it a listen, let me know what you think! Happy listening :)Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-71733260758265471732017-09-14T08:20:00.000-05:002017-12-29T09:46:43.873-06:00Confessions of a Paris Party Girl coming soon in audio!I have some exciting news: <a href="https://amzn.to/1OkAMXc" target="_blank"><em>Confessions of a Paris Party Girl</em></a> is being produced as an audio book!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8okQ9qtyt4/WbnXYS_hMeI/AAAAAAAADWY/T9tVG8T0w2wI3tjb92J_T76f-FQYrVp8wCLcBGAs/s1600/party-girl-audio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Confessions of a Paris Party Girl coming soon in audio!" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8okQ9qtyt4/WbnXYS_hMeI/AAAAAAAADWY/T9tVG8T0w2wI3tjb92J_T76f-FQYrVp8wCLcBGAs/s640/party-girl-audio.jpg" title="Confessions of a Paris Party Girl coming soon in audio!" width="600" /></a></div><br />I'm thrilled because, as all of us busy people know, there's just not enough time in the day! I love to support other authors' work and travel to different worlds through the pages of a book. But there's also laundry and bills and buying Leo's 8th pair of shoes for the month because that kid is inexplicably rough on shoes.<br /><br />Enter audiobooks. I listen to them while I run, which has the added benefit of encouraging me to run nearly every day so I can find out what happens next!<br /><br />So I'm pumped that one of my own books will be available soon in audio format from <a href="https://tantor.com/" target="_blank">Tantor Media</a>. I got to pick the narrator (she's awesome!) and production is underway. Stay tuned for a release date!<br /><br />In the meantime, here are a few of my recommendations for some truly fab audiobooks:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Martian/dp/B00B5HO5XA/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=&amp;sr=&amp;linkCode=li2&amp;tag=vickilesage-20&amp;linkId=8b9ca9ced5c7a4677955ebe435d0bda5" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=B00B5HO5XA&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=vickilesage-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=vickilesage-20&amp;l=li2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00B5HO5XA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /><em><a href="https://amzn.to/2ws4mEf" target="_blank">The Martian</a></em>, by Andy Weir</div><br />The narrator, <a href="https://amzn.to/2xB0oyr" target="_blank">R.C. Bray</a>, nails all the different accents, and you really feel like you're alone on Mars with Mark Watney the whole time you're listening. An incredible experience. No wonder the audiobook won multiple awards!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Crocus/dp/B00MFS7BT8//ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=li2&amp;tag=vickilesage-20&amp;linkId=f6d880e962cf6fea525d3d06b70e042e" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=B00MFS7BT8&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=vickilesage-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=vickilesage-20&amp;l=li2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00MFS7BT8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /><em><a href="https://amzn.to/2y895Nm" target="_blank">Yellow Crocus</a></em>, by Laila Ibrahim</div><br />A fantastic book made even better by the talented narration of <a href="https://amzn.to/2x43OrM" target="_blank">Bahni Turpin</a>. Her voice shifts seamlessly into different characters, transporting you to another time and another place.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yes-Please/dp/B00OD0LKV6//ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=li2&amp;tag=vickilesage-20&amp;linkId=e00e598ca6fbb069bce6803721081ab3" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=B00OD0LKV6&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=vickilesage-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=vickilesage-20&amp;l=li2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00OD0LKV6" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /><em><a href="https://amzn.to/2f8HjvP" target="_blank">Yes Please</a></em>, by Amy Poehler</div><br />What's better than reading Amy Poehler's hilarious and fascinating book? Listening to her read it to you. I felt like I was hanging out with Amy, you know, just me and my best friend Amy Poehler chatting about really funny stuff. I never wanted it to end!<br /><br />Happy listening!Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-33182099403387692252017-05-12T13:00:00.000-05:002017-08-18T08:13:15.966-05:00Kentucky Derby Party Recipe: Mint Julep BrowniesWe were invited to a Kentucky Derby party at my aunt and uncle's house, which was a great excuse to get dressed to the nines (or the sevens or sixes as our case tends to be these days) and throw on some crazy big hats. And we brought some delicious Kentucky Derby-themed Mint Julep Brownies (recipe at the bottom).<br /><br />But first, photos of the big day:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7UfxOocAGNI/WRX0NFxiLFI/AAAAAAAADUI/rXO6iH8b3aYyH99O-a5O8zfSnJHrpvxqwCLcB/s1600/kentucky-derby-party-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7UfxOocAGNI/WRX0NFxiLFI/AAAAAAAADUI/rXO6iH8b3aYyH99O-a5O8zfSnJHrpvxqwCLcB/s400/kentucky-derby-party-01.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Say, "Always Dreaming!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CiRBb8F4uIs/WRX0NUe2VkI/AAAAAAAADUM/h3yFmNdlT9UszDVyJfVV_L444cwEIyZlACLcB/s1600/kentucky-derby-party-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CiRBb8F4uIs/WRX0NUe2VkI/AAAAAAAADUM/h3yFmNdlT9UszDVyJfVV_L444cwEIyZlACLcB/s400/kentucky-derby-party-02.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My little Derby goofballs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6wWF4DROTRs/WRX0NeqB7GI/AAAAAAAADUU/aoRJeUcSvEcQkf3ukTffoqmpNuUvLa4UgCLcB/s1600/kentucky-derby-party-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6wWF4DROTRs/WRX0NeqB7GI/AAAAAAAADUU/aoRJeUcSvEcQkf3ukTffoqmpNuUvLa4UgCLcB/s400/kentucky-derby-party-04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The closest thing to "date night" we'd seen in a while. I'll take it!</div><br />Grandma came too and won Best Hat with a Horse Theme and also won $34 for betting on the winning horse. Leo said, "I love you Grandma because you're a winner." Let's hope she never loses, or it will put my son's fickle love to the test!<br /><br />On to the recipe. I love to bring themed treats to parties. I don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. This easy recipe ticked both of those checkboxes. I started with <a href="https://allrecipes.com/recipe/214847/philly-cheesecake-brownies/" target="_blank">this recipe for Philly Cheesecake Brownies</a> and jazzed it up for the Kentucky Derby party.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hF7mzIsdZKk/WRX2vjskmlI/AAAAAAAADUg/0fvGvF-EecAVcj0hG_JzRtNTFmaYR-B6gCLcB/s1600/IMG_5656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hF7mzIsdZKk/WRX2vjskmlI/AAAAAAAADUg/0fvGvF-EecAVcj0hG_JzRtNTFmaYR-B6gCLcB/s640/IMG_5656.JPG" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The perfect Kentucky Derby party recipe: Mint Julep Brownies</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Mint Julep Brownies</b><br /><br />1 package brownie mix<br />3 eggs<br />1/4 cup water<br />1/2 cup vegetable oil<br />1 package light Philly cream cheese<br />1/2 cup sugar<br />green food coloring (optional)<br />Andes mints, chopped (or you can buy a bag of pre-chopped ones)<br /><br />1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Start the preheating way later if your kids are "helping" with the preparation (i.e. licking the bowls and making everything take longer). Grease 9x13 baking pan.<br /><br />2. Mix brownie mix, 2 eggs, water, and oil by hand until well blended. Pour into pan.<br /><br />3. Beat cream cheese, sugar, and 1 egg white with electric mixer until well blended. Add a bit of green food coloring. (It's optional, but it somehow makes the brownies seem mintier!)<br /><br />4. Spoon cream cheese mixture over brownie batter, then swirl lightly with a knife to create marble effect.<br /><br />5. Top with chopped Andes mints.<br /><br />6. Bake 28-30 minutes. Cool before serving.<br /><br />Enjoy with an actual mint julep for extra Kentucky Derby party fun!Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-17740231874198067512017-04-04T00:00:00.000-05:002017-08-18T08:13:56.119-05:00The New MaisonWe've been in the US for a few months now, and in our new house for a few weeks. The kids (and honestly, me too) still call it "the new house" even though now it's really just "the house." I guess we're all still so excited!<br /><br />So here are some pictures of our new abode:<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OK_4l6rLKv8/WOF_Legf_1I/AAAAAAAADTg/juWYBUOPa3EipbJZoscMH7wLHTABPCrvgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4727-2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OK_4l6rLKv8/WOF_Legf_1I/AAAAAAAADTg/juWYBUOPa3EipbJZoscMH7wLHTABPCrvgCLcB/s640/IMG_4727-2.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />OK, I *might* have Photoshopped the grass a bit to make it just a smidge greener. But I swear this is what it's gonna look like by the time I'm done with it! I also might have Photoshopped our two fallen shingles back into place. If only the actual fix were that easy...<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xaGb-Mx1bzs/WOF9KduRkiI/AAAAAAAADSc/Lo-7l7aFUWUeZn7GdlhM6EbrXVlJlua-ACLcB/s1600/IMG_4697.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xaGb-Mx1bzs/WOF9KduRkiI/AAAAAAAADSc/Lo-7l7aFUWUeZn7GdlhM6EbrXVlJlua-ACLcB/s640/IMG_4697.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />When we moved to the US I was so excited to have a bigger kitchen where I couldn't open the fridge from my seat at the table. Yet, somehow, even with a large kitchen like this, I can still open the fridge (you can see a smidgen of it in the lower left corner of the photo) from my seat (at the end of the breakfast bar).<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RzgWSjoaEwo/WOF9H6dPRaI/AAAAAAAADSY/TpJsFqi58DUIpkqiJz5JSLtFCIV-_6_9gCLcB/s1600/IMG_4694.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RzgWSjoaEwo/WOF9H6dPRaI/AAAAAAAADSY/TpJsFqi58DUIpkqiJz5JSLtFCIV-_6_9gCLcB/s640/IMG_4694.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />Our highly sensitive ovens (that set off the smoke detector nearly every time we use them) and our American-sized fridge. And a whole counter for charging our phones and iPads.<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gRZ0l7K-ggI/WOF9L0QXaXI/AAAAAAAADSk/5tooMYxsTroMTdhESCFYb0g9J6nfKmwFACLcB/s1600/IMG_4698.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gRZ0l7K-ggI/WOF9L0QXaXI/AAAAAAAADSk/5tooMYxsTroMTdhESCFYb0g9J6nfKmwFACLcB/s640/IMG_4698.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />View of the backyard from our kitchen. We will eventually move the kids' playhouse to the yard, but at least we can keep a close eye on those troublemakers from here.<br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BdAEyVLleoc/WOF9KiD-ohI/AAAAAAAADSg/hQZDlAsx9ng2S0hk7NhIgxYVa5tkbyShACLcB/s1600/IMG_4699.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BdAEyVLleoc/WOF9KiD-ohI/AAAAAAAADSg/hQZDlAsx9ng2S0hk7NhIgxYVa5tkbyShACLcB/s640/IMG_4699.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />Leo settled into the new living room immediately and taught me how to use the remote controls.<br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qAnGoJu3njQ/WOF9H8Ynl2I/AAAAAAAADSU/RQQMSCLT0zoq9su_B-MIdgxE6vA75_YywCLcB/s1600/IMG_4689.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qAnGoJu3njQ/WOF9H8Ynl2I/AAAAAAAADSU/RQQMSCLT0zoq9su_B-MIdgxE6vA75_YywCLcB/s640/IMG_4689.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />This is our "pub." It's for playing games, having a few drinks, and enjoying a nice fire in the fireplace (after we learn how to do that. Build a fire, that is. I definitely know how to drink and play games.)<br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5qSZaVa9xXQ/WOF9Hp9DV1I/AAAAAAAADSQ/LlmcCvn3Kr8y2_GDGArsJPCdIv3pbyOsQCLcB/s1600/IMG_4693.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5qSZaVa9xXQ/WOF9Hp9DV1I/AAAAAAAADSQ/LlmcCvn3Kr8y2_GDGArsJPCdIv3pbyOsQCLcB/s640/IMG_4693.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />We originally planned to use the dining room as a place we actually eat. Now it's where we hang our coats and set out our stuff for the next day. Because, yeah, you totally need a whole room for that.<br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AeLeiJEAArM/WOF9QAGhbNI/AAAAAAAADS0/EFyDhudFufwHPML2728tg5WUE2d6DMBNQCLcB/s1600/IMG_4713.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AeLeiJEAArM/WOF9QAGhbNI/AAAAAAAADS0/EFyDhudFufwHPML2728tg5WUE2d6DMBNQCLcB/s640/IMG_4713.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />Our master bedroom is, no kidding, the size of our old apartment (if you count the bathroom and walk-in closet, which of course I do). However, despite all the space, my 6'4" husband still didn't want a king-size bed. Which is good since this one barely fit up the stairs.<br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VU7r7V6bH_Q/WOF9UwddswI/AAAAAAAADTM/dw5cLpPhEYMoO4zWD08flosKptMlU1IJgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4720.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VU7r7V6bH_Q/WOF9UwddswI/AAAAAAAADTM/dw5cLpPhEYMoO4zWD08flosKptMlU1IJgCLcB/s640/IMG_4720.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />The kids like to run circles around all this space. Me too.<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HDAbsnvx2yM/WOF9WQlJZPI/AAAAAAAADTU/ArH8XfdzOk4VNEP5xghO3Lngox4SSmr8ACLcB/s1600/IMG_4722.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HDAbsnvx2yM/WOF9WQlJZPI/AAAAAAAADTU/ArH8XfdzOk4VNEP5xghO3Lngox4SSmr8ACLcB/s640/IMG_4722.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />Look! The sink is in the same room as the toilet! And both are in the same room as the shower! And everything is white and fresh!<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wg6QjnRK3ho/WOF9WSbMJJI/AAAAAAAADTQ/iv1CUQqa6TQaqWuNsrW62SOxkIjA4_I8gCLcB/s1600/IMG_4725.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wg6QjnRK3ho/WOF9WSbMJJI/AAAAAAAADTQ/iv1CUQqa6TQaqWuNsrW62SOxkIjA4_I8gCLcB/s640/IMG_4725.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />Another angle of the bedroom. If you'd like some of that artwork for your own house, I can ask the kids if they're currently accepting commissions.<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A3N40nAhGdg/WOF9NBuyk3I/AAAAAAAADSo/X_hwK_BfiUI4Sqhgp46DJGduI_8GXZiXACLcB/s1600/IMG_4701.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A3N40nAhGdg/WOF9NBuyk3I/AAAAAAAADSo/X_hwK_BfiUI4Sqhgp46DJGduI_8GXZiXACLcB/s640/IMG_4701.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />Despite having three rooms to choose from, the kids both chose to share this one. "We want our beds RIGHTNEXTTOEACHOTHER, just like at Grandma's house and in Paris."<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FTCQsDVDPec/WOF9OMM3IaI/AAAAAAAADSw/89SjGMCKIPsMXKB3cxa21bj9_Qfg0p3pACLcB/s1600/IMG_4706.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FTCQsDVDPec/WOF9OMM3IaI/AAAAAAAADSw/89SjGMCKIPsMXKB3cxa21bj9_Qfg0p3pACLcB/s640/IMG_4706.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />This room will eventually be Stella's bedroom but for right now it just holds all the kids' clothes.<br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z8aGKhPcX0c/WOF9NLszoUI/AAAAAAAADSs/MIvD5WT3N-kgMYJLfqswYc8EJkPx0F7uQCLcB/s1600/IMG_4703.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z8aGKhPcX0c/WOF9NLszoUI/AAAAAAAADSs/MIvD5WT3N-kgMYJLfqswYc8EJkPx0F7uQCLcB/s640/IMG_4703.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />Come visit us! The guest bedroom is all set up and waiting for you.<br /><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-taRz53Nu41k/WOF9QolNGFI/AAAAAAAADS4/VttFYqYwiLcs0A9QRRTTbyibeWcsRL2ewCLcB/s1600/IMG_4708.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-taRz53Nu41k/WOF9QolNGFI/AAAAAAAADS4/VttFYqYwiLcs0A9QRRTTbyibeWcsRL2ewCLcB/s640/IMG_4708.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />The kids now have their own bathroom, which might just be the best part about this whole thing.<br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DP0fyBYO4-k/WOF9QpNlPCI/AAAAAAAADS8/YXHcGD9HAGcougGV9Nuo1d6RIu_WHb7HgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4715.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DP0fyBYO4-k/WOF9QpNlPCI/AAAAAAAADS8/YXHcGD9HAGcougGV9Nuo1d6RIu_WHb7HgCLcB/s640/IMG_4715.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />At the top of the stairs is a loft, which we are using as a playroom. From this angle it looks sparse. But just you wait.<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79I76cPSUY8/WOF9SleLjlI/AAAAAAAADTA/PdE4SZd9mn4uBR5VlXwD_FxtA58bqzcrwCLcB/s1600/IMG_4716.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79I76cPSUY8/WOF9SleLjlI/AAAAAAAADTA/PdE4SZd9mn4uBR5VlXwD_FxtA58bqzcrwCLcB/s640/IMG_4716.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />It's jam-packed (but well-organized) with loads of toys. We sold, donated, recycled, or trashed most of our stuff in Paris, but paid big money to ship all the kids' stuff. We wanted them to feel at home right away. They do.<br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-63NlMCtHP6g/WOF9T4LJQXI/AAAAAAAADTE/x2a7cQJyxl8dj6BepTqNYRndJGkiwYWrQCLcB/s1600/IMG_4718.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-63NlMCtHP6g/WOF9T4LJQXI/AAAAAAAADTE/x2a7cQJyxl8dj6BepTqNYRndJGkiwYWrQCLcB/s640/IMG_4718.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />I probably don't need all these photos of the same room, I just really like it!<br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-adJxkSEbBdM/WOF9UBzLYKI/AAAAAAAADTI/JYuDd34GR-ksF9GAk3tWhVcHEfwJk35FACLcB/s1600/IMG_4719.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-adJxkSEbBdM/WOF9UBzLYKI/AAAAAAAADTI/JYuDd34GR-ksF9GAk3tWhVcHEfwJk35FACLcB/s640/IMG_4719.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />OK, last one. Hope you enjoyed!Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-32070837738586931172016-11-07T07:47:00.000-06:002017-08-18T08:15:38.049-05:00Je T'aime... Maybe?A while back, I met up with fellow expat-author-living-in-Paris Lily Heise, who penned <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0992005302/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=vickilesage-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0992005302&amp;linkId=868c4b313b1ceee309fd00d16e852f54" target="_blank">Je T'Aime, Me Neither</a></i>. We had a fab afternoon filled with quite a few drinks and lots of laughs, and wrote about it on our blogs (along with <a href="http://vickilesage.blogspot.fr/2014/07/taking-on-marais-with-lily-and-vicki.html" target="_blank">some tips for going out in the Marais</a>).<br /><br />Now, two years later (how has it been THAT long?!?) she and I are back: Lily with her new book and me to tell you how much I loved it!<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><b>First, the book:</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0992005329/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0992005329&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=vickilesage-20&amp;linkId=e18465cc6ead87f8301721e00761603a" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ASIN=0992005329&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;tag=vickilesage-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=vickilesage-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0992005329" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0992005329/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0992005329&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=vickilesage-20&amp;linkId=7e2b94be6ddfe1fa4600054c5ffef3a3" target="_blank">Je T'Aime... Maybe?</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=vickilesage-20&amp;l=am2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0992005329" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><br /><b>My editorial review:</b><br /><br />"Romantic misadventures in the City of Love? Count me in! Hilarious and entertaining, one of the best parts of this romantic tale is that it's based on true events. If you've ever dreamed of finding love in the City of Light, grab this book and follow Lily la Tigresse on her lively journey!"<br /><br />- Vicki Lesage, author of <i>Confessions of a Paris Party Girl</i><br /><br /><b>And an excerpt from the chapter titled "La Convocation":</b><br /><br /><i>Hi Lily,</i><br /><i>My ex-husband might be stopping by, </i><br /><i>if he does, could you give him this key?</i><br /><i>Merci - Nicki</i><br /><i><br /></i> <i>Hmmm</i>…<i> could it be? </i><br /><br />Might I have a chance to meet Nicki’s mysterious ex? Little did I know what her key was going to unlock!<br /><br />I never really understood what exactly our glamorous American landlady Nicki currently did for a living. A former model turned fashion designer, the only thing I knew for certain was she no longer had her own fashion line since our office occupied what had once been her workshop.<br /><br />At the beginning of the year, I’d been tasked with finding a newer, bigger office for the tour company I worked for. I truly hadn’t been expecting to find anything exceptional, but it was love at first <i>click</i> when I stumbled across the Craigslist ad for a bright, spacious room, a stone’s throw from rue Montorgueil, the trendy, centrally-located market street where I’d met Lionel for our first date. Though geographically and spatially perfect, it came with its share of intrigues … and surprises.<br /><br />The whole space had once been a single apartment, Nicki had the front section and we had the quieter back section facing the courtyard. We each had our own entrance doors, so we only saw each other occasionally when crossing paths in the shared kitchen and bathroom. Despite the fact that signs with the respective company names hung on our doors, since ours was first, we often had deliver boys knocking at it bearing mysterious packages from Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Gucci for Madame Nicki. Letters were also slipped under our door addressed to one of her various businesses … or to a certain mysterious Mr. O’Brian. This was not her last name, or at least what she’d told us her last name was. At first, she referred to him as her ‘business partner,’ however, later on she let it slip, he was indeed her ex-husband. It was strange to me she was already divorced, as she barely looked thirty. Had she married a gay French fashionista so she could get residence papers? Unlikely. O’Brian didn’t sound in the slightest French. Yet another slip of the tongue, revealed he was as Irish as his name suggested. Even better than my previous hunches, I imagined that she’d married him to get a European passport <i>and</i> at the same time cleverly evade France’s astronomical business taxes. All my theories resurfaced while reading her note. Today I might just get a chance to meet ‘Monsieur Ex Hubby’… and piece together the obscure puzzle of Nicki that preoccupied my overactive imagination.<br /><br />I put the key on the corner of my desk and got down to work. That was about as much thought I gave to it until her doorbell startled me out of my digital depths in the mid-afternoon. <br /><br />My eyes first shot in the direction of her door, then to the key. <i>Ah ha! </i>That must be <i>the</i> Mr. O’Brian!<i> </i>Had it not been for Nicki’s note, I would have merely ignored her ringing doorbell. Mr O’Brian might not have realized which doorbell he should be ringing to acquire the key. <br /><br />I hopped out of my chair, smoothed down my dress and went to my door. Flinging it open expecting to find a stylish, red-headed Irishman, a very tall, dark-haired rather ordinary looking man swung around instead.<br /><br />“Bonjour Madame, Inspecteur Cluzot, Préfecture de Police.”<br /><br /><i>A policeman?</i> The plain-clothed officer confidently strode across the landing towards me, flashing an official looking badge.<br /><br />“Is Madame Swanson here?”<br /><br />“Ahhh ummm <i>non </i>…” I stammered. Wow, how many secrets was Nicki actually hiding?<br /><br />“Can I leave you this <i>convocation</i> for her?” He politely requested. <br /><br />I was ‘allowed’ to pick up and leave on the kitchen table all the letters erroneously delivered to our office. However, Nicki got terribly annoyed when I’d signed for certified letters or packages on her behalf unless she’d specifically told me in advance something would be coming. There was no mention of the police in her note! What could she possibly have to hide? <br /><br />“<i>C’est rien.</i> It’s nothing serious,” he added, sensing my anxiety. “She was broken into a while ago and we just need her to stop by the station to clarify some details.”<br /><br /><i>Broken into?</i> At her home? Or <i>here?</i> We rarely locked the door between our offices and the last thing I wanted to add to my list of worries was the threat of burglary. He gave me a reassuring smile and I felt I had no choice but to oblige.<br /><br />“Come in,” I invited, still a little flustered. “Would you like some coffee? Water?”<br /><br />“No, but thank you very much, it’ll just take a few minutes for me to fill in this form,” he replied, taking a seat at our meeting table. He reached into his jacket and produced a small, old fashioned pad, the kind with three different colored carbon sheets. Judging from its size, I figured that it shouldn’t take too long to complete, so I hovered a few steps away instead of returning to my desk.<br /><br />“Your name, please?” <i>Why did he need </i>my<i> name?</i> “It’s merely a formality, since you’re taking the convocation for Mrs. Swanson.”<br /><br />Maybe this hadn’t been such a good idea after all. However, now it was too late, so I proceeded to reply to his question, spelling out my impossible foreign name, each letter printed with meticulous precision on the first dotted line. He was v.e.r.y. slow. They mustn’t teach note taking in the French Police Academy. What happens if they are at an urgent crime scene? I guess this is why Nicki had to go back to give them more details; something had obviously been missed by the original, equally turtle-paced <i>policier</i>.<br /><br />“Address?” <i>Geez</i>, that form was more comprehensive than I’d gathered from my quick glance. Then again, the French do love their paperwork and bureaucracy. This should have come as no surprise to someone who’d spent hours at the <i>préfecture</i> over the years, delivering the mountains of paperwork required to renew my annual residence permit.<br /><br />“So, what do you do?” he enquired next, pen matched up to a blank line. Why should he need my profession? This opened up a whole new can of inquisitive worms and a series of off-the-record questions from the Inspector.<br /><br />“<i>Hmmm </i>… today’s date is …?” This question allowed me to escape back to my desk to double check this on my computer calendar. I proceeded to park myself there, I resigned to the fact, at this rate, it would take the Inspector a minimum of five to ten minutes more. Would he have to take down my age, eye color, height and weight as well?<br /><br />“Are you English?” <i>Nationality couldn’t possibly be a category on his form!</i> French people always think I’m British since I don’t have the typical <i>Québécois</i> accent the French expect from a Canadian, nor do I have a typical ‘American’ accent. Therefore, my sing-songy voice is usually assumed to be from across the English Channel, not the Atlantic Ocean.<br /><br />This was another off-topic question, which forced more polite conversation. I was starting to get a little antsy, noticing the growing number of unread emails piling up in my inbox.<br /><br />“Right,” he said getting back to his form. “I need your phone number … just in case we need to reach you …” Why would they need to reach <i>me</i>? Wasn’t this convocation for Nicki? Again, I didn’t really feel I could say no; therefore, another slow minute went by as I carefully enunciated the digits of my cell phone number, which he slowly repeated back. He then silently and painstakingly checked over his entire form.<br /><br />“Oh I forgot, one last question, is it <i>madame </i>or … <i>mademoiselle</i>?” <i>Oh brother, the French!</i> No neutral ‘Ms.’ in this country. You’re either married or you’re not.<br /><br />“Mademoiselle,” I had to honestly answer.<br /><br />Finally his form seemed to meet his rigorous standards of completion. He fastidiously tore off one of the sheets while unhurriedly rising from his seat, cueing me to his imminent departure. I walked over expecting a courteous farewell and the pink slip from his form pad, but he was lingering.<br /><br />“Well if you need anything, just let me …” I started.<br /><br />“<i>Vous êtes ravissante</i>,” he passionately proclaimed cutting me off mid sentence.<i> Ravishing? </i>The French and their ardent amorous compliments!&nbsp; Wait a second … was he hitting on me? <i>Oh mon Dieu!</i> He now knew all my basic details, including that I was a <i>mademoiselle</i>, and thus proposition-able.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><br />For more info, check out <a href="http://jetaimemeneither.com/je-taime-maybe-new-book-announcement/" target="_blank">Lily's site</a>. Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-63156835289277322472016-06-07T00:00:00.000-05:002017-08-18T08:16:31.848-05:00A Birthday + Global Living MagazineMy daughter just celebrated her 2-year birthday, which means it's roughly the 2-year birthday of my second memoir, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1499276532/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1499276532&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=vickilesage-20&amp;linkId=N4HCTAKZ6GP7GNIZ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><em>Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer</em></a>, as well! I'd written most of the book while on bed rest and wrapped it up while I was in the hospital after delivering her.<br /><br />And now, to celebrate (though I'm sure they didn't realize it at the time!), <em>Global Living Magazine</em> has released their Summer 2016 issue, which includes a review of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1499276532/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1499276532&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=vickilesage-20&amp;linkId=N4HCTAKZ6GP7GNIZ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><em>Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer</em></a> in their Expat Bookshelf section:<br /><br /><i>Vicki Lesage leaves you guessing about nothing. If you want to know what it's like to give birth to and raise young children in France as an expat, this book will give it to you straight.<br /><br /><a href="http://globallivingmagazine.com/summer16/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><i><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vAnMttmI3i4/V0Q7Bra4BXI/AAAAAAAAC58/jBLpmqH_85kwAi72i_pfcLUyjMvaqCcEwCLcB/s1600/global-living-magazine.jpg" width="153" /></i></a>Vicki, an Amazon best-selling author, lives in Paris with her French husband and two children, a boy and a girl, and hilariously recounts what life is like for a new mother navigating the cobblestone streets in the City of Light. Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer is an honest yet delightful memoir of a former party girl who reaches more for baby bottles than champagne flutes nowadays.<br /><br />Filled with pregnancy humor, insights into French healthcare and childcare (yes, the kids eat amazing food in daycare in Paris…), dealing with relatives who live far away, French maternity leave, managing "baby brain" in a non-English-speaking country, obtaining dual citizenship for a newborn, and apartment hunting for an expanding family, anyone raising a family abroad (or thinking about it) can get something from this book.</i><br /><br />- Global Living Magazine, <a href="http://www.globallivingmagazine.com/">www.globallivingmagazine.com</a><br /><br />Thanks for the review!Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-58818394857514802562016-05-17T00:00:00.000-05:002017-08-19T17:08:08.272-05:00Parisian Waiting Rooms: Classier Than My ApartmentParisian doctor's offices are usually in the same building as residential apartments. In fact, the offices themselves often are converted apartments. The first few times I encountered this I found it bizarre (I go into this in more detail in my book, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/1jWUOb6" target="_blank">Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer</a></i>) but once you get used to it, you can appreciate their charm.<br /><br />Crown molding, hardwood floors, floor-to-ceiling windows - these are features most of us wish we had in our own houses!<br /><br />Here are a few snaps of some Parisian waiting rooms:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Parisian Waiting Rooms: My Dentist's Office" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3zUgezbFay4/U0jcHFnf8WI/AAAAAAAAArM/U1GupeB_Me4/s320/french-waiting-room-dentist-1.jpg" title="Parisian Waiting Rooms: My Dentist's Office" width="600" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dentist's office is more posh than my apartment</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Parisian Waiting Rooms: My Dentist's Office" border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NHEm3T6y4z0/U0jcHLIG-OI/AAAAAAAAArI/gyDGHRhjzdw/s320/french-waiting-room-dentist-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Parisian Waiting Rooms: My Dentist's Office" width="600" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the (edge of the) marble fireplace!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Parisian Waiting Rooms: The Ultrasound Office" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2NSJoRDXACk/U0jcHsjFtWI/AAAAAAAAArU/syaR9WpVgyQ/s320/french-waiting-room-ultrasound.jpg" title="Parisian Waiting Rooms: The Ultrasound Office" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The magazine selection at the ultrasound office is très chic.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Parisian Waiting Rooms: The Blood Lab" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HiiDBZcpCL8/U0jcHGOpdRI/AAAAAAAAArg/1BOfaV-J_Rk/s320/french-waiting-room-blood-lab.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Parisian Waiting Rooms: The Blood Lab" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, a normal waiting room. This is at the blood lab. I can say with confidence that at least my apartment is nicer than this waiting room, though this is still a nice, clean place to wait before being stabbed with a million needles (seriously, how many tests do they need to run during pregnancy?)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Not a bad place to kill some time before the appointment, eh? Despite all my complaining, Paris really does have its charms.Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-30047848055864428032016-02-23T17:00:00.000-06:002017-08-19T17:15:37.358-05:00A Story About StoriesRemember back when I used to write stories instead of just doing giveaways all the time? Me neither!<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sHcCHZON5qQ/Vs13IQxotUI/AAAAAAAACnQ/7wYR80KmfHg/s1600/One-Walk-Two-Interpretations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sHcCHZON5qQ/Vs13IQxotUI/AAAAAAAACnQ/7wYR80KmfHg/s1600/One-Walk-Two-Interpretations.jpg" width="600" /></a><br />Photo credit: <a href="https://www.mamalode.com/" target="_blank">Mamalode</a></div><br />But this month I'm back on one of my favorite sites, <i>Mamalode</i>, with a story about stories. How meta.<br /><br />It's called "<a href="https://mamalode.com/story/detail/one-walk-two-interpretations" target="_blank">One Walk, Two Interpretations</a>" and is about how I feel rushed in the morning taking Leo to school, with all the horns honking and bustling construction sites, while to him it's an amazing world full of wonder. I like his version better.<br /><br />Check out the full story here: <a href="https://mamalode.com/story/detail/one-walk-two-interpretations" target="_blank">One Walk, Two Interpretations</a><br />Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-63103949053067978752015-12-15T04:03:00.001-06:002017-08-19T17:23:51.971-05:00Hello, Santa? It's Me Again...I'm scared to look at my phone bill this month. I've been calling the North Pole like nobody's business and I'm pretty sure that zone isn't part of my calling plan. But what am I supposed to do when my son is being naughty and he calls my bluff?<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ojie7P6mdbU/Vm_kvRjsonI/AAAAAAAACTI/_ZnrU3k-L2Q/s1600/smartphone-497304_640.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ojie7P6mdbU/Vm_kvRjsonI/AAAAAAAACTI/_ZnrU3k-L2Q/s400/smartphone-497304_640.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br />I call the big guy up north.<br /><br />And... it's really not working for me. At all. My three-year-old son is totally on to me.<br /><br />Check out the full article: <a href="https://www.sammichespsychmeds.com/hello-santa-its-me-again/" target="_blank">"Hello, Santa? It's Me Again."</a>Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-73581230120738327542015-12-13T02:40:00.000-06:002017-08-21T16:52:30.964-05:00Kindness After the Paris AttacksImmediately following the November 13th Paris attacks, I was contacted by a few different sites to write an article about it. Being less than two miles away from where one of the attacks happened, and living in a city where the effects of the attacks continue to be felt, it seemed I was a decent candidate to write about them.<br /><br />I was flattered. But I was also at a loss for words. I couldn't really figure out what I wanted to say about it. What was different about my experience? We'd all gone through it in different ways, some much more affected than others.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://community.today.com/parentingteam/post/kindness-after-the-paris-attacks" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9C4py9MYVtw/Vl6vHlTO0II/AAAAAAAACRg/kOiskj7MHJI/s1600/0e208bf0d2c267bc2f30bc6adb3628bc5df4969d.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br />Finally, I was able to put something in words, taking on the angle of a parent with small kids.<br /><br />I shared my story over on TODAY Parents: <a href="http://community.today.com/parentingteam/post/kindness-after-the-paris-attacks" target="_blank">"Kindness After the Paris Attacks"</a>. Give it a read and feel free to leave a comment!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://community.today.com/user/vicki-lesage" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qfxym4twgps/Vlc0Q4Lq3aI/AAAAAAAACQw/1rDyohpejg0/s1600/today-parenting-team-contributor.png" /></a></div>Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-40321310837182440312015-12-10T02:00:00.000-06:002017-08-21T16:54:29.854-05:00What to Give Santa? What About This Tasty Cocktail...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bonbonbreak.com/Giving-WaterAid-America/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="84" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_E_LySkU-U/Vl8FE-xR8hI/AAAAAAAACR4/92U5eMmzGQs/s640/Giving-Top-of-Post.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />This month, <a href="http://www.bonbonbreak.com/Giving-WaterAid-America/" target="_blank">Bon Bon Break</a> has a lovely theme: Giving. Their posts range from funny to heartwarming, from interesting reads to helpful tips. And the theme is sponsored by Water Aid, an incredibly worthy cause. (Check them out on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WaterAidAmerica" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/wateraidamerica" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.)<br /><br />So why am I yakking on about it? Well, besides being a big fan of Bon Bon Break AND charitable causes, I also wanted to share a post I wrote for the theme. Here's a teaser:<br /><br /><i>With two young children in my house, there’s a lot of focus on what Santa is going to give them. But what about what we are going to give Jolly Ol’ St. Nick? My kids better be careful or they’ll end up with lumps of coal in their stockings. And last I checked, that wasn’t anywhere on their lengthy wish lists.</i><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.bonbonbreak.com/christmas-cookie-cocktail/"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PdKH-WOKvmc/Vl_4lrAH0NI/AAAAAAAACSI/KicJymc-rEA/s640/christmas-cookie-cocktail.JPG" width="600" /></a><br />Christmas Cookie Cocktail</div><br />Read on for the <a href="http://www.bonbonbreak.com/christmas-cookie-cocktail/" target="_blank">rest of the story and the recipe</a>!Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-66482531536546397452015-11-02T01:00:00.000-06:002017-08-21T16:56:49.559-05:008 Things to do Once the Kids Go to BedThe other night Mika had to work late. He NEVER does that. Which means I'm NEVER alone with both kids on a busy weeknight. I had to pick them up from the creche/school and get them both home. Uphill, sweating, as Leo pointed out one motorcycle that was broken and EVERY MOTORCYCLE IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF PARIS that was not broken. There were a lot.<br /><br />Then I had to cook them both dinner. Then give them both baths without them drowning. Then get them to bed without them screaming.<br /><br />I realize a lot of parents fly solo all the time: single parents, parents with a spouse in the military, or parents with a spouse who works late or works a different shift. That's not me. I'm totally spoiled because I almost always have Mika by my side to help! He's awesome!<br /><br />I was sure the evening would be a disaster because even regular evenings are tough. But the kids were angels! It was amazing! For a second I wondered if I'd picked up someone else's kids from the creche/school!<br /><br />Then I had a little time to kill before Mika got home. What to do... Luckily I wrote an article about it on BLUNTmoms! Check out <a href="http://www.bluntmoms.com/8-things-kids-go-bed" target="_blank">8 Things To Do Once the Kids Go to Bed</a> if you find yourself with a few surprisingly peaceful late-night moments.<br /><br />Here's a taste:<br /><br /><i>4. Catch up on your email. Then get distracted by an article about leggings or vaccines or belly wraps, and blow through the rest of your free time without clearing a single email from your inbox.</i><br /><br />Because, yeah, with all the things I could have done with my free evening, that's how I ended up spending it. Check out the <a href="http://www.bluntmoms.com/8-things-kids-go-bed/" target="_blank">full article</a> for the other 7 ideas!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bluntmoms.com/8-things-kids-go-bed/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Article on BLUNTmoms" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dur-VG6wzO4/VD90GXY3aWI/AAAAAAAABjY/ICUXay1-XWo/s1600/bluntmoms-banner.jpg" title="Article on BLUNTmoms" /></a></div>Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-68628829135479577552015-10-23T00:00:00.000-05:002017-08-21T16:57:51.478-05:006 Apps That Should Totally ExistAre you reading this on your phone?<br /><br />If yes, then you're totally going to love this article.<br /><br />And if not, your phone probably still isn't too far out of reach, so I think you'll still like this article.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.sammichespsychmeds.com/6-parenting-apps-that-should-totally-exist/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Za0EhiwkshA/VgK_JiPQacI/AAAAAAAACJQ/GMcQtvh-flY/s400/iphone-410311_640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Check out my article, 6 Apps That Should Totally Exist, over on <a href="https://www.sammichespsychmeds.com/6-parenting-apps-that-should-totally-exist/" target="_blank">Sammiches &amp; Psych Meds</a>, because seriously, these apps should totally exist!Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-22753187785505088482015-10-06T00:00:00.000-05:002017-08-21T17:00:20.302-05:00Time for Christmas already?It's not even Halloween yet and I'm already talking about Christmas? I'm the worst! But I just can't help myself because COCKTAILS.<br /><br />Yup, that's right, my latest book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012KXZ3EW" target="_blank"><i>Christmas Confessions &amp; Cocktails</i></a> is not only about Christmas but also has 25 deliciously festive cocktails. So it would be a shame to make you wait for those. I'm really just looking out for you.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012KXZ3EW" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eKPglVTHjLk/VdHO37rfm1I/AAAAAAAACEA/iz3rAxiKP7E/s400/3D-christmas-confessions.png" width="254" /></a></div><br />Not ready to take the boozy plunge yet? Here's some early praise for <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012KXZ3EW" target="_blank">Christmas Confessions &amp; Cocktails</a>&nbsp;</i>to help convince you:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"I loved it--it had me laughing out loud as I nodded my head with familiarity. The perfect way to kick-start your Christmas cheer."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">- Aimee Horton, author of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010VUNDHU" target="_blank">Survival of the Christmas Spirit</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Follow her on: <a href="http://passthegin.co.uk/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AimeeHortonWrites" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/AimeeHorton" target="_blank">Twitter</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Bubbly and delicious, with a surprisingly delightful kick, Vicki Lesage's hilarious and heartwarming collection of stories is the perfect holiday cocktail!"</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">- Kathryn Leehane, author and humorist at Foxy Wine Pocket</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Follow her on: <a href="http://www.foxywinepocket.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/foxywinepocket" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxyWinePocket" target="_blank">Twitter</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"From pot-luck shaming to creepy Christmas caves to mutant flying insects, Christmas Confessions &amp; Cocktails has absolutely everything you need to make your season hilarious! This latest installment in the Confessions series from writer and humorist Vicki Lesage is full of hysterical Yuletide tales and delicious cocktail recipes. The perfect holiday gift for the person in your life who loves to laugh!"</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">- Sarah del Rio, author, editor, and the woman behind the curtain at humor site est. 1975</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Follow her on: <a href="http://established1975.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/est1975blog" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/est1975blog" target="_blank">Twitter</a>)</div>Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-75838572151874077772015-10-05T00:00:00.000-05:002017-08-21T17:01:50.446-05:008 Ways Substitute Teaching Prepared Me for ParenthoodBack in college I was a substitute teacher. You'd think that would mean it was the kids who were doing all the learning, but I learned quite a bit myself...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FuygMIBptHo/VgT_FcVjQ2I/AAAAAAAACJc/ll1w-b3DBk8/s1600/teacher-379218_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FuygMIBptHo/VgT_FcVjQ2I/AAAAAAAACJc/ll1w-b3DBk8/s400/teacher-379218_640.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br />Today I'm over on BonBon Break with 8 things in particular I learned. If you count this as learning:<br /><br /><i>#5 Don’t let them pit you against their regular teacher/ the other parent.<br /><br />“Mrs. Brown lets us talk while we write our essays.”<br /><br />“Dad lets us eat pizza and candy for breakfast.”<br /><br />“Mr. Elliott said it’s OK to eat Cheetos in chem lab as long as we share.”<br /><br />Don’t be fooled! Your subs said it to you, now it’s your turn to say it: “Well, I’m not Mrs. Brown/ your Dad/ Mr. Elliott!” And go ahead and confiscate all that pizza and candy and Cheetos for yourself.</i><br /><br />Want to find out the other 7 things I learned? Check out the full post: <a href="http://www.bonbonbreak.com/substitute-teaching-prepared-parenthood" target="_blank">8 Ways Substitute Teaching Prepared Me for Parenthood</a>Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-32789871996824758612015-09-21T02:00:00.000-05:002017-09-12T09:32:33.226-05:00The Real MeWhen Mika and I went on our first date, who could have known we'd end up getting married? Yet now here we are, celebrating our four-year wedding anniversary.<br /><br />Which is about four years longer than you'd think for someone who shot guns and talked incessantly about vomit on their first date. I'm a real crowd-pleaser, I am.<br /><br />Happy anniversary to my loving French hubby!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NwKZhH4RUGw/VCAbfO9j8_I/AAAAAAAABaM/4CN8UszxeyU/s1600/party-girl-quote-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NwKZhH4RUGw/VCAbfO9j8_I/AAAAAAAABaM/4CN8UszxeyU/s1600/party-girl-quote-05.jpg" /></a></div>Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-91719727323566087822015-09-07T02:00:00.000-05:002017-09-12T09:42:32.982-05:00Resistance is FutileNearly four years ago, I married the man of my dreams. Which means about four years ago I had my bachelorette party, during which I attempted to dance on the bar but fell off the barstool before that awesomeness could even begin. And that means it's been three years since the bruise on my shin went away.<br /><br />Yep, you read that right. That blasted bruise lasted for almost exactly a year. Which, in hindsight, was about what I deserved.<br /><br />Singing all night long: Totally awesome<br />Dancing all night long: Totally fun<br />Dancing on bars: Totally unsafe<br />Falling off bars: Totally embarrassing<br /><br />But, hey, you only (usually) have a bachelorette party once, right? Totally worth it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zGwkY-byeo/VCAbfvWCCjI/AAAAAAAABaU/HJhpbsKFnhA/s1600/party-girl-quote-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zGwkY-byeo/VCAbfvWCCjI/AAAAAAAABaU/HJhpbsKFnhA/s1600/party-girl-quote-06.jpg" /></a></div>Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-54523063774118587692015-08-20T07:41:00.001-05:002017-09-12T09:44:55.134-05:00Win a trip to Paris!Ah Paris, the City of Light. Show of hands... who would like to go to Paris? OK, and out of you (I can't see you because it's the internet, but I assume almost all of you have your hands raised), how many would like to go for free? Now I'm sure ALL of you have your hands raised!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://paris.fattirebiketours.com/contests/free-trip-to-paris" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hx1VejCgcKA/VdXAr5ZJB0I/AAAAAAAACGs/bzm-n6RXUG0/s400/win-a-trip-to-paris.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Well I've got good news for you. You can enter to win a trip for two from Fat Tire Tours. Don't waste another second:<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://paris.fattirebiketours.com/contests/free-trip-to-paris" target="_blank">Enter now for a chance to win a Free Trip for Two to Paris</a>!</b></div><br /><h2>But that's not all...</h2><br />OK, all entered? Now I'd like to offer you something else:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Two Spots on the Fat Tire Paris Day Bike Tour&nbsp;(Value: 64 € / $75)</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UVJ5Yy2vCtE/VdXGXCdNQyI/AAAAAAAACG8/9E4ysZ2BEXk/s1600/fat-tire-paris-bike-tour-giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UVJ5Yy2vCtE/VdXGXCdNQyI/AAAAAAAACG8/9E4ysZ2BEXk/s400/fat-tire-paris-bike-tour-giveaway.jpg" width="342" /></a></div><br />As an expat in Paris, I've seen these tours go buy and let me tell you, they look like loads of fun. In fact, many of my expat friends have worked for Fat Tire Tours and said it was a blast and they never got tired of showing people around town and giving them the inside scoop. And what better way to see the city than by bike? I'm actually planning to do one of the tours myself one of these days, but with the kids being 1 and 3 years old, I haven't yet found time. Soon though, for sure.<br /><br />More info on the bike tour here:&nbsp;<a href="http://paris.fattirebiketours.com/tours/paris-day-bike-tour">http://paris.fattirebiketours.com/tours/paris-day-bike-tour</a><br /><br />So enter above for the trip to Paris, enter below for the bike tour, and cross your fingers in the hopes you win an awesome, fun-filled trip to Paris!<br /><br /><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="0bfcbdc21" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0bfcbdc21/" id="rcwidget_2prljhon" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br /><script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Bonne chance! Good luck!<br /><br /><b>Update 10/1/2015: Congrats to Luchina A. for winning 2 Spots on Fat Tire Paris Bike Tours. And thanks to everyone who entered!!</b></div><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I have not received any compensation for this post, other than the offer of two free spots on the bike tour for myself, which I'm dying to use but probably won't be able to. Unless one of you wants to babysit the kids? All opinions are my own.</span></i>Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-74576807682551215802015-08-16T07:10:00.001-05:002017-09-12T09:43:47.668-05:00Debutante Ballin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yEOsc595AK4/VdB9Y-J3fAI/AAAAAAAACDk/2byMIqjVg2w/s1600/spritz-aperol-vicki-lesage-225x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yEOsc595AK4/VdB9Y-J3fAI/AAAAAAAACDk/2byMIqjVg2w/s1600/spritz-aperol-vicki-lesage-225x300.jpg" /></a></div>I've got a guest post over on <a href="http://www.thedebutanteball.com/confessions-with-vicki-lesage-book-giveaway" target="_blank">The Debutante Ball</a>, which is a site that almost seems too classy for the likes of me! So go ahead, check me out in my new digs.<br /><br />Need some reasons?<br />1. Learn how I work and sleep at the same time.<br />2. Find out what scares me the most.<br />3. Get a sweet recipe for Aperol Spritz.<br />4. Enter for a chance to win a copy of <i>Confessions of a Paris Party Girl</i>.<br />5. Do you really need more reasons than that?!?<br /><br />Get clickin': <a href="http://www.thedebutanteball.com/confessions-with-vicki-lesage-book-giveaway" target="_blank">5 Confessions + 1 Sweet Recipe</a>. Thanks, and good luck in the giveaway!Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-50507818578240378652015-07-24T00:00:00.000-05:002017-09-12T09:44:36.344-05:00Five Glorious MinutesSometimes sleeping five extra minutes is all you need. Or, if you have young kids, it's all you can realistically hope for.<br /><br />And sometimes getting a five-minute break from all their loud, adorable, obnoxious, sweet noise makes all the difference in maintaining your sanity.<br /><br />So check out my story, <a href="http://mamalode.com/story/detail/five-glorious-minutes" target="_blank">Five Glorious Minutes</a>, on Mamalode as part of their theme for July: <a href="http://mamalode.com/month/2015/07" target="_blank">Dive In</a>. And stay cool this summer!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QhjtCNMHxaY/VbOwNQMYm1I/AAAAAAAACDQ/7Rx_UdCjNk0/s1600/T2_Five_Glorious_Minutes_Lesage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QhjtCNMHxaY/VbOwNQMYm1I/AAAAAAAACDQ/7Rx_UdCjNk0/s320/T2_Five_Glorious_Minutes_Lesage.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-15643506246616941082015-07-07T00:00:00.000-05:002017-09-12T09:47:11.066-05:00Why we love FranceIs it hot enough?!? This is only the beginning! I hope everyone's having a great summer so far. On my side of the pond, it's almost time to celebrate Bastille Day, and this year, the Paris Writers’ Connection (yours truly included) has banded together to share brief snippets of what they like about Paris.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />Happy Bastille Day and happy reading!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YzHaN0mafsw/VZUK8s6YFhI/AAAAAAAACDA/cHX6XTNY10A/s1600/paris-writers-connection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YzHaN0mafsw/VZUK8s6YFhI/AAAAAAAACDA/cHX6XTNY10A/s400/paris-writers-connection.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center><b>Tom Reeves, author of <em>Dining Out in Paris – What You Need to Know before You Get to the City of Light</em></b></center><br /><a href="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Photo-of-Tom-Reeves-by-John-Reeves-e1435065595594.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tom Reeves" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-19058" src="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Photo-of-Tom-Reeves-by-John-Reeves-e1435065595594.jpg" height="132" width="100" /></a>There are many things to like about Paris, but for me the most pleasurable is the quality of the restaurants that one finds here. French chefs, restaurant managers, and staff have mastered the art of preparation and presentation of the food that they serve, the spirit of service, and the arrangement of the dining space. Each week, my wife and I look forward to dining out and then reporting on our experience in our <a href="http://www.parisinsights.com/restaurants.php" target="_blank">weekly restaurant review</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Dining-Out-in-Paris-w-white-space.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-19093" src="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Dining-Out-in-Paris-w-white-space.jpg" height="175" width="100" /></a>Tom Reeves has been a confirmed Francophile since he first took an unpaid sabbatical in 1975 to travel to France to learn the language, see the country, and pursue a diploma in French language, literature, and civilization. Returning to California in 1978, he eventually realized that while he had left France, France had never left him. He moved back permanently in 1992. Reeves’ latest book <em>Dining Out in Paris – What You Need to Know before You Get to the City of Light</em> helps Paris-bound travelers understand French dining customs so that they feel comfortable when entering into a French restaurant for the first time.<br />Buy now: <a href="http://amzn.to/1nkgCyu" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1nkgCyu</a><br /><br /><center>* * * * * * *</center><br /><br /><center><strong>Lily Heise, author of <i>Je T’Aime…Me Neither</i></strong></center><br /><a href="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Lily-100w.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lily Heise" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-19100" src="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Lily-100w.jpg" height="150" width="100" /></a>The thing I love the most about Paris is its <i>joie de vivre</i>. This is manifested in different ways, but I truly feel that Parisians celebrate life. They take the time to sip <i>un petit café</i> at the bar or a laugh over a glass of rosé <i>en terrasse</i>. They savor their meals over hours instead of gobbling down a quick bite. They spend Sunday afternoons in the park or taking in an exhibit at the city’s vast array of excellent museums. This energy keeps me here and keeps me alive!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Je-t-aime-me-neither-100w.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Je t'aime... me neither" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-19101" src="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Je-t-aime-me-neither-100w.jpg" height="135" width="100" /></a>April Lily Heise is a Canadian writer and romance expert based in Paris. Her writing has been featured in the <em>Huffington Post</em>, <em>Conde Nast Traveler</em>, <em>Frommer’s</em>, <em>City Secrets</em>, and <em>DK Eyewitness Guides</em> and other local and international publications. She is the author of <em>Je T’Aime, Me Neither</em>, a lively novelized memoir on her romantic misadventures and continues to share dating tips, stories, and travel features on her blog <a href="http://www.jetaimemeneither.com/" target="_blank">www.jetaimemeneither.com</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center>* * * * * * *</center><br /><br /><center><b>Rosemary Flannery, author of <em>Angels of Paris</em></b></center><center><br /><a href="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Rosemary.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rosemary Flannery" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-19110" src="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Rosemary.jpg" height="175" width="100" /></a>The truly great thing about Paris is its constant surprises. This evening Radio Classique offered a classical music concert sponsored by the RATP in the great hall of the Miromesnil metro station. The space was packed, the acoustics were perfect, and the violinist, Nemanja Radulovic, a brilliant young star. Tattooed, his huge mane of hair waving as he moved, his passion for the music was palpable, and the familiar pieces resounded as never before. This was not the first time Radulovic played in the metro: it was here at the age of 14, having moved with his family from Serbia to France after the Yugoslav Wars, that he began his career, busking for money. I felt truly grateful to have been part of such an original evening, and thought ‘only in Paris’... <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Angels-of-Paris.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angels of Paris" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-19115" src="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Angels-of-Paris.jpg" height="150" width="100" /></a>Rosemary Flannery is an author, photographer and tour guide. She arrived in France in1989, just in time for the bicentenary of the Revolution and the inauguration of the Louvre museum and its Pyramid. Passionate about Parisian architecture, she wrote <a href="http://angelsofparis.com/" target="_blank"><i>Angels of Paris: An Architectural Tour of the History of Paris</i></a>, celebrating the illustration of angels in the city’s facades, fountains and rooftops. Released in 2012 by The Little Bookroom NYC and distributed by Random House, her book will be published in French this September as <i>Les Anges de Paris: Voyage au coeur de Paris</i>, by Editions Exergue.<br /><br /><br /><center>* * * * * * *</center><br /><center><b>Vicki Lesage, author of&nbsp;<i>Confessions of a Paris Party Girl</i></b></center><br /><a href="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Vicki-Lesage.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vicki Lesage" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-19047" src="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Vicki-Lesage.jpg" height="134" width="100" /></a>My favorite thing about Paris is my neighborhood boulangerie and the routine of getting my daily baguette. Even though there are two boulangeries closer to my apartment, I still venture out to my favorite one because the perfection of their baguettes is worth it. And now I bring my two-year-old son with me so he can share in this quintessential French experience. He knows how to order the baguette (hilariously addressing the boulangère as “Madame Baguette” in the process), pay for it (if I hand him the correct change in advance), and carry it home like a true Parisian: eating just the end off.<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/confessions-of-a-paris-party-girl-book-cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Confessions of a Paris Party Girl" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-19052" src="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/confessions-of-a-paris-party-girl-book-cover.jpg" height="151" width="100" /></a>Vicki Lesage proves daily that raising French kids isn’t as easy as the hype lets on. She penned three books in between diaper changes and wine refills:&nbsp;<em>Confessions of a Paris Party Girl</em>,&nbsp;<em>Confessions of a Paris Potty Trainer</em>, and&nbsp;<em>Petite Confessions</em>. She writes about the ups and downs of life in the City of Light at&nbsp;<a href="http://vickilesage.com/" target="_blank">VickiLesage.com</a>.<br />Buy now:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vicki-Lesage/e/B00HUZQUI4" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Vicki-Lesage/e/B00HUZQUI4</a><br /><br /><center>* * * * * * *</center><br /><center><b>Leonard Pitt, author of <em>Walks Through Lost Paris</em></b></center><br /><a href="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/leonard-headshot.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Leonard Pitt" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-19121" src="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/leonard-headshot.jpg" height="146" width="100" /></a>Paris is made for walking. There are walks I’ve been doing for over fifty years and they only get better. Like turning a rich soil and taking in the pungent aroma of fresh earth that flairs the nostrils with pleasure. An early morning when the cafes are just opening is best, before traffic, crowds, and tour buses. The city breathes Zen.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Walks_through-Lost_Paris_100w.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Walks through Lost Paris" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-19124" src="http://blog.parisinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Walks_through-Lost_Paris_100w.jpg" height="175" width="100" /></a><a href="http://leonardpitt.com/" target="_blank">Leonard Pitt</a> is an author, actor, and teacher. He lived in Paris for seven years in the 1960s and learned nothing about the city. It was only much later, in the 1990s, when he became shocked upon learning what he did not know that he started reading and researching everything he could about Paris and its history. As someone once said, “If you want to learn about something, write a book about it.” Leonard has written three books about Paris. His first, <em>Walks Through Lost Paris</em> was a bestseller in the French capital. In addition he has written, <em>Paris, A Journey Through Time</em>, and <em>Paris Postcards, the Golden Age</em>. His new book, <em>My Brain On Fire, Paris and Other Obsessions</em>, is a memoir. It will be published later this year by Counterpoint Press.</center>Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-75333974635915946222015-06-27T00:42:00.000-05:002017-09-12T09:51:21.912-05:00Only 19 Steps?Summer's here, and if your kids are anything like my adorable, squirmy little ones it takes a million steps before you can get the sunscreen on and the kids out the door. Nineteen steps, to be precise.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0gvJlS15rI0/VY43MZax8NI/AAAAAAAACCw/k-_cKtp4SyI/s1600/IMG_0461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0gvJlS15rI0/VY43MZax8NI/AAAAAAAACCw/k-_cKtp4SyI/s400/IMG_0461.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thirty minutes of lathering up for ten minutes of fun before they get bored</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Today I'm over on BonBon Break with all 19 of those steps. To give you a taste, here are #3 and #4:<br /><br /><i>3. Slather the first kid up with sunscreen while the other one gets into your nicely packed beach bag, spreading all its contents on the floor.<br /><br />4. Tell the first kid to put their shirt back on while you round up the other kid. Don’t trip over all the crap on the floor.</i><br /><br />Can you relate? Check out the full post: <a href="http://www.bonbonbreak.com/putting-sunscreen-on-your-kids" target="_blank">19 Steps to Putting Sunscreen on Your Kids</a>Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-27706784642097734552015-06-16T01:00:00.000-05:002017-09-12T09:55:15.580-05:00Martinis & Motherhood: Now Available!Martinis &amp; Motherhood... this book has my name written all over it!<br /><br />Actually, it only has my name written once. Because, that's right, I'm in yet another anthology! I was thrilled to be selected as a contributor to the "Woe" section; there are also "Wonder" and "WTF?!" contributors in this delicious, honest, hilarious, awesome book.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0994768818" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yeRomFCBHI8/VXrtHQs9MyI/AAAAAAAACCg/O1ISFB_fVtI/s640/martinis-and-motherhood.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><br />Check out the blurb:<br /><br /><i>Stories that inspire, entertain, and make you laugh ’til you pee. Plus martinis! And not just any-old-martinis—these ones were designed just for moms!</i><br /><br /><i>These tales of Wonder, Woe and WTF?! share a little glimpse into the lives of other moms, who are a lot like you. Through their tales, we’re reminded to savour the little things (like capturing extra morning snuggles), to let go of the stresses (they won’t be in that unfortunate phase forever), and to be grateful for the laughs that the unexpected brings (because laughing is better than crying and it may be the only workout our abs get!).</i><br /><br /><i>So shake up an easy-to-make martini, put your feet up (quickly, before the kids find you) and join us on our journey as we toast to the many clink-worthy moments that motherhood brings.</i><br /><br />And here's an excerpt from my story, "French Women Don't Get Fat":<br /><br /><i>Adding insult to injury, we live across the street from a maternity hospital. From the comfort of my apartment, clad in stretchy Size L yoga pants that will never be used for yoga, I see impossibly thin women leave the hospital with their tiny bundles of joy in their skinny little arms. Pouffiasses.</i><br /><br />Ready for some amazing stories and tasty cocktails? Want to find out what a "pouffiasse" is? <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0994768818" target="_blank">Order your copy</a> today!<br /><br />And be sure to check out the blogs of all the wonderful contributors!<br /><br /><b>Team Wonder</b><br />Lynn Morrison <a href="http://nomadmomdiary.com/" target="_blank">nomadmomdiary.com</a><br />Angila Peters <a href="http://detachedfromlogic.com/" target="_blank">detachedfromlogic.com</a><br />Magnolia Ripkin <a href="http://www.magnoliaripkin.com/" target="_blank">magnoliaripkin.com</a><br />Louise Gleeson <a href="http://www.latenightplays.com/" target="_blank">latenightplays.com</a><br />Jocelyn Pihlaja <a href="http://omightycrisis.com/" target="_blank">omightycrisis.com.com</a><br />Alison Huff <a href="https://crumbsdown.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">crumbsdown.com</a><br />Leigh-Mary Barone Hoffmann <a href="http://www.happilyeverlaughterblog.com/" target="_blank">happilyeverlaughterblog.com</a><br />Shannon Drury <a href="http://theradicalhousewife.com/" target="_blank">theradicalhousewife.com</a><br />Patricia Mirchandani <a href="http://www.raising-humans.com/" target="_blank">raising-humans.com</a><br />Lauren Stevens <a href="http://www.lo-wren.com/" target="_blank">lo-wren.com</a><br />Cordelia Newlin de Rojas <a href="http://www.multilingualmama.com/" target="_blank">multilingualmama.com</a><br />Sarah Deveau <a href="http://doingallthethings.com/" target="_blank">doingallthethings.com</a><br /><br /><b>Team Woe</b><br />Shannon Day <a href="http://martinisandmotherhood.com/" target="_blank">martinisandmotherhood.com</a><br />Tara Wilson <a href="http://dontlickthedeck.com/" target="_blank">dontlickthedeck.com</a><br />Vicki Lesage <a href="http://www.vickilesage.com/" target="_blank">vickilesage.com</a>&nbsp;&lt;&lt; Hey, that's me!<br />Abby the Writer <a href="http://www.abbythewriter.com/" target="_blank">littlemissperfect.com</a><br />Brooke Takhar <a href="http://www.missteenussr.com/" target="_blank">missteenussr.com</a><br />Kate Parlin <a href="http://www.shakespearesmom.com/" target="_blank">shakespearesmom.com</a><br />Christina Antus <a href="http://www.christinaantus.net/" target="_blank">christinaantus.net</a><br />Jennifer Baird-Dean <a href="http://www.thechiofjen.com/" target="_blank">thechiofjen.com</a><br />Sara Park <a href="https://crcrsmommyblog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">crcrsmommyblog.com</a><br />Tamara Schroeder <a href="http://www.thattamiam.com/" target="_blank">thattamiam.com</a><br />Kristen Hansen Brakeman <a href="http://kristenbrakeman.com/" target="_blank">kristenbrakeman.com</a><br />Lori Lu Green LeRoy <a href="http://www.theinadequateconception.com/" target="_blank">theinadequateconception.com</a><br />Carolyn Mackenzie <br /><br /><b>Team WTF</b><br />Susanne Kerns <a href="http://thedustyparachute.com/" target="_blank">thedustyparachute.com</a><br />Sarah Halsall del Rio <a href="http://established1975.com/" target="_blank">established1975.com</a><br />Lisa Webb <a href="http://www.canadianexpatmom.com/" target="_blank">canadianexpatmom.com</a><br />Jessica D’Andrea Kapp <a href="http://jesskapp.com/" target="_blank">jesskapp.com</a><br />Kim McDonald <a href="http://twobugsandablog.com/" target="_blank">twobugsandablog.com</a><br />Lisa Carmody Doiron <a href="http://www.momologues-soliloquies.com/">momologues-soliloquies.com</a><br />Olga Mecking <a href="http://www.europeanmama.com/" target="_blank">europeanmama.com</a><br />Holly Rust <a href="http://www.mothersguidetosanity.com/" target="_blank">mothersguidetosanity.com</a><br />Kathryn Leehane <a href="http://www.foxywinepocket.com/" target="_blank">foxywinepocket.com</a><br />Jill Hudkins Robbins <a href="http://www.rippedjeansandbifocals.com/" target="_blank">rippedjeansandbifocals.com</a><br />Kristine Laco <a href="http://www.mumrevised.com/" target="_blank">mumrevised.com</a><br />Andrea Mulder-Slater <a href="http://www.andreamulderslater.com/" target="_blank">noreallyandrea.com</a>Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089120779846212256.post-34460243884796081362015-05-23T06:07:00.000-05:002017-09-12T09:56:46.639-05:0010 Great Reads as Summer Heats UpSummer is just around the corner... what will you be reading on the beach/next to the pool/cramped up in your tiny Parisian apartment?<br /><br />Check out this list of <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/brandi-megan-mantha/summer-reading-womens-fiction-style_b_7417452.html" target="_blank">10 Great Summer Reads</a>, which includes a book by yours truly, <i>Confessions of a Paris Party Girl</i>! I've read a few of the other ones on the list, and can't wait to catch up on the rest!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/brandi-megan-mantha/summer-reading-womens-fiction-style_b_7417452.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CVYHCsvyqhs/VWBeszdn9jI/AAAAAAAACCQ/hx9HmcQrY6E/s1600/huffington-post-summer-reads.png" /></a></div>Vicki Lesagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756527499531934545noreply@blogger.com